New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-26
THE BROOKLYN COMMITTEE
CLOSING up THE INVESTIGATION.


~o,v .nour THE ELECTRIC LIGHT FRANCHISE
WITNESSES WHO REFUSE TO ANSWER.
Tia Last se.,ie a in Brooklyn of the Assembly IN
veatiestns Committee. which has sat there 'nr ,s
davs each week since the first of March, was nc'u
Yesterday The committee viii meet tomorrow morn M
ing In Albany. but whether any witnesses w."
summoned or only the report discussed 70 . nn.r
Some Of the witnesses subp@naed n"'' NV
heard. pos ,b.
Ex-Charit;es Commissioner Joseph Reeve was INC
Arst witness Yesterday He merely wanted 10 correct
one or two errors in his testimony as Popnsuou
Henry W. Pope. OF Pope Sewen O. Co., was .non
recalled TO complete the evidence begun on saturday
III, testifed that the Aldermen passed resolution
granting franchise for electric lighting to his hr IN
Nav 1884. and Mayor Low vetoed 1t. Then announcer
resolution satisfactory to the Mayor was adopted anu
signed by him. The sum of $4,000 mot $1o,oVo;
as be said Saturday. Was raised by the OnaGns
Company to prosecute its work and secure irsncn,
The witpess again declined to answer whether NC
Maid any money to Chief Nevins, OF the FIRE Dep"r
ment. between January and May, 1884, ior any
puruose and gave his reason that any cVnn~
tjou betw cen them confidential. lie also 6o'usou
to state whether S. 500 paid to Nevins. Cnaries
Cooner had seen him. he said, after Under Sherin
Mclaughlin testified Saturday and had tod MN nm
that Mr. Mclaughlin was sorry Tor having saia ~ LIE
cvcitement that they had robbed him. 10 iurtne.
ne"t;"ninc Mir Pope said that to tell what passed
6etween hntelf and Chief Nevins would De vo,a-
ton OF confidence between him and Ills partner "i
Charles II. Stwell was then questioned. he told
about the efforts made by his firm to Introduce electric
lighting in Brooklyn Whem .ns 81 wires over house
tops something was said OF making peace WIN .n s
Fire Department of Brooklyn he aterwara ndat 70
Chief Neyns say to Mr.. Pope that he wansca 70
become interested in their firm and he was toio ina
thew got in by paying He said he would De wilnng
and $500 in assessment He told them his influence
would be valuable. The witness confirmed . shc
Popes evidence in regard to the Srganaon o the tbe
(,it,zens' Electric Illuminating Company, ana tne
way Mclaughlin, Shevlin, Delmar and barrett Be-
When Mr. Sewell was asked if he he'd any converse,
tjon with Chief Nevins about raising money 10 secure
the franchise from the Aldermen he said the matter
was confidential and he could not repeat II. he ae,
clined to answer all questions about tine bs still
declined. He said to answer would Dot crimihate
him. but he regarded it dishoDorable to reveal con-
fdentia business matters lie saio ne aH ., NOV t The
that any money was paid to any official TO ge' !he
franchise. He admitted that answering some OF .no
questions might involve some OF his lriehds uhpe"e
M. Neyins was again put the stand He denied
that he bad ever handled money raised To procure
public franchise or to corrupt any Nme",. e va
uiIIiuy that Mr.. Pope should tell all he knew. ana
evould submit his bank account for examination.
While he went for his check books, Mr.. rope was sns
recalled but he again declined 10 STATE wnas .ne
committee wanted to know OF alleged corruption
fund OF ST. 500 the ground that 1t woaid De VIC
atiop of the confidence his business associates ana
he could not sss ssMs sSc inter-
e.ted There had been no talk about any fSna 70
secure the franchise save with Neyius; Mr.: sewer
MAS also recalled and he as positively refused TO
violate confidence, although he admitted that MS
refusal lett some persons la bad position
While waiting for Mr.. Nevins to produce his cnecK-
book, and bank accounts, the committee had private
eonfereuce and decided to hold the next session III
Albany The time of the committee Will expire on
Nav l. unless an extension is secured.
When Cnet Nevins returned he said he could nor
find his deposit book for 1884 but he produced the
ono Tor 1855. He identified slips handed bim show
ing depost of 81 125 in the National City BANK IN
Nav 1854 aud Mr. Parsons asked him signihcanuy
whether he observed that $425, for which he nad
drawn five checkr, one-iifth OF that sum. lIc
franchise III question granted by the Aldermen III
Nav 1884. The witness did not know hat IT met
with any opposition, and he protested entire lghor
ance OF the Big Four" who were PECULIARLY
10 rule the board at that time. Finally MI. Nevins
said he would not consent to Mr. Popes testying 10
what he chose neither would he refuse to consent
Mr. Parsons said he could not continue the examna-
tion of the witness without all the records OF MS
bank deposits .,..o. ,-o,Ia
IL was then suggested that the committee would
not meet again in Brooklyn and a vote OF thanks 10
the citv authorities and the press was adopted
The Republican members OF the committee say that
thew think amp evidence has been produced to sus-
tain all the allegations regard to official corruption
made when the motion for the appointment OF lne
committee was offered. The Democratic members
think the opposite.